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CAPS In Focus 30 May 2016 www.capsindia.org

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INDIA PROGRESSES DEVELOPMENT OF ADVANCED SPACE TECHNOLOGY Gp Capt Vivek Kapur Senior Fellow, CAPS

Introduction ISRO has worked on developing its Geosynchronous (GSLV) India’s space agency, Indian Space Research in increasingly more powerful variants from Organisation (ISRO), commenced working on GSLV to GSLV-Mk-3. Conventional launch developing a space launch capability in the late are one use expendable vehicles. One use 1970s. Success with its carries its to a designated point in space (SLV)-3 was first achieved in 19801. SLV-3 was at a predetermined velocity. Most space launch capable of placing a small 40 kg payload into low rockets are multistage vehicles. As each stage is earth (LEO)2. Hence SLV-3 was not a really used up (its fuel is fully burnt) it is jettisoned to usable space launch capability as most avoid carrying non-productive dead weight any of the time weighed above several hundred further than absolutely necessary. Thus, entire kilograms and such as polar orbits and launch rocket is progressively discarded after its geosynchronous (GSO), geostationary transfer use. The jettisoned stages of the rocket burn up orbits (GTO), and Geosynchronous equatorial in the atmosphere; with surviving structures orbits (GEO) were entirely beyond SLV-3’s being destroyed on impact with the ground or capability. ISRO then put effort into developing falling into oceans, depending upon the location more powerful launch vehicles such as the Polar of the launch site. Each space launch has Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV)3 and Augmented traditionally required a complete freshly built Satellite Launch Vehicle (ASLV)4. Both ASLV and rocket to be used. This makes the cost of placing PSLV proved to be quite capable. However, each kilogram of payload into space very high. success was achieved after a few failed launch Considerable thought has been devoted by all attempts of these more powerful launch rockets. space faring nations to devise means of reducing The first PSLV was launched in year 1993 and launch costs.’ achieved success a year later5. In recent years, 1

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Reduction of Launch Costs ; these three integral engines were in continuous operation till the Even a cursory look at the means of reducing the reached orbit in , hence the need for a cost of launching objects into space easily large amount of fuel8. The two strap-on solid identifies the ‘one time use’ nature of the space booster rockets were jettisoned after use and launch rocket as a major contributor to the high returned to splash down in the ocean with cost of launching objects into space. parachutes slowing down the impact speed. The Development of a launch vehicle that could be solid fuelled booster rockets were meant to be reused appeared to be the logical step towards recovered from the sea and refurbished for reducing the cost of space launches. There are reuse.9 The entire Space Shuttle returned to many possible ways of reusing launch vehicles. Earth through a glide landing and was reusable.10 The first such attempt at developing a The huge external fuel tank was, however, was development of the discarded after use. Some national security Space Shuttle by the US. The Space Shuttle requirements were also included in the Space involved development of a large winged vehicle Shuttle design to meet needs of the US military11. that could carry reasonable payload and crew to Despite only the external fuel tank being totally orbit and return via a glide to land like a expendable the US Space Shuttle did not meet its conventional aircraft.6 This vehicle was provided objective of making space launches less costly. with its own integral rocket engines. The aim of The development and operating costs of the the program was to make available cheap, American Space Shuttle were still quite high. The regular and fast access to space7. For launch from cost of launching a kilogram of payload to space Earth the US Space Shuttle used its three integral into (LEO), at an altitude of about rocket engines along with two strap-on solid fuel 330 to 430 kilometers above mean sea level booster rockets. The vehicle was launched (AMSL) where the International Space Station vertically like a space rocket. The largest (ISS) orbits the earth using various space launch structure attached to the American Space Shuttle methods available to the US were reported as at launch was a huge external fuel tank that listed at Table 1. carried fuel for the shuttle’s three integral rocket

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Table1: Cost of Launching a Kilogram to Space for USA

US Civil Contractors such as Space X (with Falcon Type of space Russian Progress rockets) and now also Blue Space Shuttle launch vehicle Origin (with the Shepard rocket). These are still in development phases.

$ cost per kilogram of payload carried to 46,789.6 39,927.8 58,894 the ISS in LEO

Source: Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics Committee on Science, Space, and Technology U.S. House of Representatives, “NASA’s Commercial Cargo Providers; Are They Ready to Supply the Space Station in the Post-Shuttle Era?”.

The US built five Space Shuttles, these were launchers use tried and tested conventional named Columbia, Challenger, Endeavour, rocket technology of the type used in the 1950s Discovery, and Atlantis12. Construction of these to launch satellites and other by the craft involved utilisation of high technology erstwhile Soviet Union. The development costs of ceramic tiles for thermal protection at re-entry these venerable rockets have been amortised into the atmosphere, provision of human fully and their manufacturing has been made habitation space with life support equipment and very efficient and reliable. There has been a high end robotics on board to simplify in space thread of opinion in various circles that the path mission tasks13. towards lower cost access to space lies not in developing reusable launch vehicles but in Table 1 brings out that the advanced features building robust, well understood, tried and incorporated in the US Space Shuttle and other tested rockets that can be mass manufactured overheads involved through the ‘cutting edge cheaply. While there is merit in this argument, high technology’ nature of the US industrial especially if one goes by the data placed at Table complex made US Space Shuttle very expensive 1 above, simple rockets do not offer the flexibility as a launch system in terms of per payload of a reusable launch platform. The erstwhile kilogram (kg) to space terms. The cheapest Soviet space program was working on launch as per the table above is provided by the developing the , their version of a Space Russian Progress space craft. These Russian Shuttle when the Soviet Union was dismantled 3

Centre for Air Power Studies | @CAPS_India | Centre for Air Power Studies CAPS In Focus 30 May 2016 www.capsindia.org and a funds crunch forced the project to be kilometers) AMSL, which altitude falls in outer abandoned14. China is known to be developing its space or above the Karman line.21 Need to reach own recoverable space plane development craft such altitudes dictate a taller and more slender called the “Yuanzheng-1” or Project 921-315 . design. Blue Origin, on the other hand, rises to about 62 miles (about 99 kilometers) AMSL, Another Path to Launch Cost Reduction which is just about till the Karman line. This Meanwhile, there are two private companies in allows for a more compact and robust design the US - Space X16, founded by the entrepreneur overall. Falcon also requires, due to the altitude it Elon Musk of Tesla and Hyperloop fame17, and rises to, moving away from the absolute vertical Blue Origin, founded by Jeff Bezos of (with respect to the Earth’s surface) as it climbs Amazon.com fame - that are working on an higher, making vertical landing orientation and alternate path towards reducing space launch stabilisation of its recovered stages more costs. Both these private companies are trying to complex to control. The Blue Origin remains make conventional space rockets reusable to vertical throughout its flight, thus somewhat reduce costs. Space X is trying to make at least reducing the sensing and control needs for a some stages of its Falcon rockets reusable by successful landing. Blue Origin aims to make an ‘soft-landing’ the first stage of its Falcon rockets entire near space altitude capable rocket on a floating platform at sea18. Space X has also reusable while Falcon aims to reuse at least the made its rocket as simple as possible by using a first stage of a rocket able to take payloads to single type of for all stages, similar outer space. All these differences between the materials and designs for all stages, etc. thus Falcon and rockets apart, both reducing design and manufacturing costs while systems have the soft landing and reuse of rocket also reducing complexity and increasing stages in common unlike the Space Shuttle that reliability`.19 Two such soft landings of the Falcon landed a winged orbiter. Through the process of first stage have been successfully achieved at sea overall simplification followed by Space X, it is in addition to several successful landings on land likely that the combination of simplification of as on date.20 These hold out hope for appreciable design and manufacture, and reusability of launch cost reductions in future. Blue Origin on recovered stages could reduce launch costs. Blue the other hand has demonstrated a launch and Origin’s ‘New Shepard’ aims to be fully reusable, soft landing of its entire ‘New Shepard’ rocket. but does not go above the boundary of space. The basic approach is very similar in both cases, A note of caution is needed here. Recovering a but with a few important differences. The Falcon rocket stage or an entire rocket by use of the rocket rises to above 124 miles (about 198 technology demonstrated by Space X and Blue 4

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Origin could have serious drawbacks. Firstly, placed at several locations around the stage such recovery requires very accurate sensors to could cocoon the stage in a bubble of air sense the vertical orientation of the rocket stage cushioning to prevent damage during its landing. / rocket. These inputs require to be fed to a high Such stages could be refurbished for reuse. The powered computer that can generate required parachute and balloon combination method control signals to correct any errors in vertical would not require fuel being left unburnt and orientation. Thereafter, the braking force to hence would not compromise on payload ensure a soft landing requires the rocket motor carriage. It would also not require complex to be restarted and its carefully calibrated sensor and control mechanisms when compared to achieve a soft landing. The sensors and to the retro-rocket soft landing techniques computing power on board to achieve these ends demonstrated by Space X and Blue Origin. There are likely to be complex and costly. Then there is are, however, other limitations of parachute the issue of leaving adequate unburnt / recovery systems that could reduce their unconsumed fuel on board the rocket stage / efficiency. These limitations are beyond the rocket to achieve vertical orientation correction scope of this article. China is reported to be as well as braking for landing. This fuel would considering a very different method to recover limit the payload or lifting power of the rocket, rocket booster stages22. The Chinese reportedly thus restricting the weight of payload it can place intend to fix paraglider like wings to the booster in orbit. These complications could detract from stage. Such wings could deploy after rocket the commendable high technology results engine burnout and help the stage to glide to a already demonstrated by both Space X and Blue soft landing23. However, till date there is no Origin. The gains in reduced launch cost through report of this method having been practically soft landing and reuse of rocket stages could be demonstrated. less than initially expected. This is because there Indian Efforts to Further Reduce Launch Cost are penalties in terms of lesser usable rocket fuel due to some fuel on the rocket being required for Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has the soft landing of the rocket stage(s). demonstrated its frugal engineering and innovative application of science capabilities An alternative means of recovering the used several times over the years. These stages of a rocket is through utilisation of demonstrations have been written about on this parachutes coupled with rapidly inflatable website in relation to ISRO’s Mars Orbiter balloons. Parachutes affixed to the upper end of Mission (MOM), and Chandrayaan-1 mission the stage could help slow down the impact speed amongst others. on landing while rapidly inflatable balloons 5

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ISRO already offers space launches at world (SSTO) craft. ISRO has identified key beating rates of $ 20,000/- per kg for 1000kg to technologies needed to develop and is GTO on the PSLV, $16,000/- per kg to GTO for 2.5 testing them in a staged manner. Hence the first tons to GTO on GSLV, and hopes to reduce these RLV-TD was aimed at testing just a few key to $ 10,000/- per kg for 10 tons to LEO and 4 parameters. These are as below:- tons to GTO on the GSLV Mk-3. The GSLV Mk-3 is  The (hypersonic glide in still to be fully developed and declared fully this first experiment) characteristics of operational for commercial launches 24 .These the RLV design27. launch costs, though they date back to 2012, are still appreciably lower than the launch costs  The performance of the heat shield system offered by other space launch services as seen developed for RLV for the re-entry to the earlier at Table 1. ISRO’s launch costs to LEO are atmosphere phase of flight. reported to already be about 60 per cent lower  The RLV’s guidance system for it to reach than rates of other launch providers or as low as a pre-determined geographical location $ 5000/- to $10,000/- per kg25. ISRO, however, is autonomously after re-entry into the trying to lower launch costs even more through atmosphere. development of a reusable launch vehicle.  RLV’s control system and its ability to The Reusable Launch Vehicle- Technology steer the craft accurately. Demonstrator (RLV-TD)  Landing (on the sea surface in mission ISRO carried out the first technology RLV-TD1). development test of its reusable launch vehicle- technology demonstrator (RLV-TD) on May 23, ISRO is ecstatic in that all the set mission test 2016. It has chalked out a step by step procedure parameters in mission RLV-TD1 have been to develop and prove the technologies required successfully achieved28. for the RLV. The first test flight on May 23, 2016 RLV-TD1 was launched in a Two Stage To was called the Hypersonic experiment (HEX). Orbit (TSTO) configuration with a HS9 solid This test involved development of a winged fuel booster rocket carrying it to an altitude capable craft, the RLV. ISRO of 56 km AMSL. At this stage the RLV built a scaled down test vehicle modelled on its separated from the booster and rose further Aerobic Vehicle for Transatmospheric Aerospace to 65 km AMSL. Thereafter the RLV entered Transportation (AVATAR) concept26. AVATAR is the atmosphere, achieved glide at a speed of designed to eventually be a single stage to orbit about Mach 5.0 and navigated to the pre- 6

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determined geographic location in the Bay of Potential Gains for India from the RLV-TD Bengal29. The RLV then landed on the water Program and floated for some time. The RLV was not At present the RLV is a technology development recovered in this mission, but was abandoned and demonstration project to develop and prove to sink at sea. Telemetry data has been technologies that can be used elsewhere. RLV is collected to assist in the next phase of the test not designed to enter outer space in the way that program30. the US Space Shuttle did. It is designed to reach The next development test flight of RLV is close to or slightly above the Karman line and planned in the next two to three months. The from there to loft satellites into space while itself proposed phases in technology development returning to Earth for reuse. This plan in itself and testing are as below: helps to reduce costs and complexity. In addition, as far as is known, the RLV is not designed for  Landing Experiment (LEX). In this the RLV manned flight, again reducing costs and will be required to land on a runway. For complexity. The RLV is likely to remain a TSTO this test RLV will be fitted with an vehicle. undercarriage and will glide to land like an aircraft.31 These design decisions by ISRO for the RLV are likely to make it possible for ISRO to meet its  Return Flight Experiment (REX). This test target of reducing its satellite launch cost to one involves RLV being fitted with engines to tenth of the current costs achieved with take off like an aircraft and to land like an expendable rockets such as PSLV etc. However, aircraft under its own power.32 there is much more to the RLV-TD program and  Propulsion Experiment (SXPEX). its benefits. This test involves fitment of the scramjet The technologies being developed and tested in engine being developed by ISRO the RLV-TD program have potential for underneath the RLV. The RLV will, after utilisation in several different areas. Firstly, the achieving high supersonic speeds, engage possibility of ISRO achieving a globally leading the scramjet to accelerate further and position in operationalising a SSTO craft, the prove the scramjet technology before it is AVATAR, is there in case all the planned test recovered33. flights of the RLV-TD program are successful. This, if achieved, would place ISRO and India as the leading space technology player by a wide margin. In the public domain, only the UK with 7

Centre for Air Power Studies | @CAPS_India | Centre for Air Power Studies CAPS In Focus 30 May 2016 www.capsindia.org its project, powered by its Synergistic Air- Hypersonic glide and scramjet engine technology Breathing (SABRE) engine34 is could also find application in military projects attempting to develop a SSTO craft, apart from involving high speed aerospace craft in future. ISRO. All other known launch vehicles in the It is quite evident that ISRO has again embarked world are either legacy expendable rockets or upon a cutting edge technology development TSTO like the US XC-37 and Chinese Yuanzheng- program. This program is being developed, as 1. It is evident that AVATAR, if developed, will be has been the case with all Indian space projects, very different from the RLV. However, some of for application in the civil field of space research the technologies being tested in the RLV-TD and satellite launch. However, with the program are likely to find application in AVATAR. increasing utilisation of space technology for Apart from the prospects for AVATAR, the RLV- national security purposes and the increasing TD program is planned to prove technologies convergence between air craft and space craft such as thermal insulation for re-entry into the towards true aerospace craft, the technologies Earth’s atmosphere, applicable for use in a future being developed by RLV-TD could find Indian manned space program. Hypersonic glide application in myriad other fields including vehicle design technology has potential military technology. utilisation for improving Indian ballistic missiles’ Conclusion Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) penetration capability. Manoeuvrable hypersonic glide ISRO has made giant strides in its capabilities capable ballistic missile warheads could help over the past few years. After developing its increase penetration of BMD system defended workhorse PSLV rocket it has gone on to develop airspace. more powerful rockets such as GSLV and its improved variants, the GSLV Mk-2 and GSLV Mk- Autonomous guidance and control capability 3. In the process, ISRO has already achieved very could find use in unmanned craft designed and low launch costs in terms of per kilogram to orbit built in India. This could also be used for very as compared with other more advanced space long range accurate weapon delivery. agencies. ISRO has nonetheless formulated a RLV through its use of solid fuel HS-9 boosters program to reduce its launch costs to one tenth could reduce the lead time for launching of current costs. Towards this end it has payloads into space. This could have beneficial embarked upon its TSTO RLV-TD project. Similar national security implications for India. cost reduction projects in the past, such as the US Space Shuttle, failed to attain lower launch costs. ISRO has deliberately kept its RLV simple and 8

Centre for Air Power Studies | @CAPS_India | Centre for Air Power Studies CAPS In Focus 30 May 2016 www.capsindia.org robust enough to achieve the cost reduction 7Ibid. objective. Current US launch cost reduction 8Worldpress.com, “The Space Shuttle and the Costly Nature efforts are directed towards developing reusable of Space Access”, rockets as demonstrated by Space X with the https://launiusr.wordpress.com/2015/03/06/the-space- shuttle-and-the-costly-nature-of-space-access/, accessed Falcon rocket and Blue Origin with the New on May 23, 2016.

Shepard rocket. ISRO’s RLV-TD could lead to 9Ibid. development of ISRO’s SSTO AVATAR 10Ibid. . The new technologies being 11Ibid. developed and proved in the RLV-TD program 12 Nasa.gov, “The Shuttle”, have several potential uses in India’s civil space http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/the_shuttle/, accessed on May 23, 2016. program, as well as in the military field. 13Ibid. Given its proven track record ISRO appears well 14Popularmechanics.com, “Did the Soviets Actually Build a poised to achieve even greater heights. The Better Space Shuttle?”, http://www.popularmechanics.com/space/rockets/a9763 progress ISRO makes in new technology /did-the-soviets-actually-build-a-better-space-shuttle- 16176311/, accessed on May 23, 2016. development are likely to have several beneficial 15Spaceinsider.com, “Era of the ‘Mini Shuttle’ picks up spin offs for India. speed with Chinese Flight of Yuanzheng-1”, http://www.popularmechanics.com/space/rockets/a9763 (Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this /did-the-soviets-actually-build-a-better-space-shuttle- article are those of the author and do not necessarily 16176311/ reflect the position of the Centre for Air Power Studies 16 Andrew Chaikin, “Is SpaceX Changing the Rocket [CAPS]) Equation?”, http://www.airspacemag.com/space/is- -changing-the-rocket-equation- 132285884/?all&no-ist, accessed on May 23, 2016. Notes 17Ibid. 1 Isro.org, “SLV”, http://www.isro.gov.in/launchers/slv, accessed on May 23, 2016. 18Ibid.

2Ibid. 19Ibid.

3 Isro.org, “SLV”, http://www.isro.gov.in/launchers/pslv, 20 Theregister.co.uk, “Watch it again: SpaceX's boomerang accessed on May 23, 2016. rocket lands on robo-sea-barge”, http://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/05/06/spacex_does_i 4 Isro.org, “SLV”, http://www.isro.gov.in/launchers/aslv, t_again/, accessed on May 23, 2016. accessed on May 23, 2016. 21The Karman line is the arbitrarily set but widely accepted 5Quora.com, “What are the differences between GSLV and boundary between the Earth’s atmosphere and Outer PSLV?””, https://www.quora.com/What-are-the- Space and this line lies at 100 kilometers or 62 miles AMSL. differences-between-GSLV-and-PSLV, accessed on May 23, 2016. 22 Doug Messier, “China Looks to Recover Booster Stages”, http://www.parabolicarc.com/2014/06/18/china- 6 Mike Wall, “How the Space Shuttle Was Born”, recover-booster-stages/, accessed on May 24, 2016. http://www.space.com/12085-nasa-space-shuttle-history- born.html, accessed on May 23, 2016. 23Ibid.

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24 S. Ramakrishnan, “Access to Space Through ISRO Launch Vehicles”, Planexnews, Volume -2, Issue-4,October 2012, https://www.prl.res.in/~rajiv/planexnews/oldarticles/Vo lume%20-2,%20Issue-4.8-12.pdf, Accessed on May 24,2016.

25NiradMudur, “ISRO Has Competition So Scared, Now SpaceX Is Trying To Compete With It To Make Cheaper Rockets”, http://www.indiatimes.com/lifestyle/technology/current- leader-in-low-cost-satellite-launch-market-isro-to-soon- have-competition-from-spacex-255160.html, accessed on May 24, 2015.

26Arya Bhatta, “ISRO: Guiding the World into the next era of Space Technology”, http://www.defencenews.in/article/ISRO--Guiding-the- World-into-the-next-era-of-Space-Technology-4619, accessed on May 24, 2016.

27Isro.gov.in, “India’s Reusable Launch Vehicle-Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD), Successfully Flight Tested”, http://www.isro.gov.in/update/23-may- 2016/india%E2%80%99s-reusable-launch-vehicle- technology-demonstrator-rlv-td-successfully, accessed on May 24, 2016.

28Ibid.

29Ibid.

30Ibid.

31Brahmand.com, “Reusable Launch Vehicles The Future of Space Missions”, http://www.brahmand.com/news/Reusable-Launch- Vehicles-%E2%80%93-The-future-of-space- missions/5595/3/15.html, accessed on May 24, 2016.

32Ibid.

33Ibid.

34Theweek.co.uk, “Skylon: how the Mach 5 space plane will work”, http://www.theweek.co.uk/uk- news/61830/skylon-how-the-mach-5-space-plane-will- worknews/61830/skylon-how-the-mach-5-space-plane- will-work, accessed on May 24, 2016.

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